Greenland Icecap Crossing

“This expedition was hard. The sleds were heavy and the days were long, but crossing Greenland is not supposed to be easy! I'm so proud of what we did and how we did it. I'll always hold this expedition and the people who did it with me in high regard. ”

Greenland Icecap Crossing

Skiing across the Greenland Icecap is a remarkable challenge. It's exciting, unpredictable, a lot of hard work, and immensely rewarding. Every day is long, sometimes skiing over 10 hours per day. The sleds are heavy. The weather can be tricky. It's a group effort that demands teamwork and a love of expedition living. The icecap is incredible. The coastal mountains disappear from view within a couple of days and you become surrounded a vast ocean of snow which you will traverse towards your goal. At first this means gaining elevation every day over broad hills with an upward trend. Then, once the highpoint has been reached (after 16-19 days on the W-E crossing) you'll begin a gradual descent that often isn't easy to notice. The difficulty of each day is largely determined by the weather which can send blues skies, strong winds, snow or rain. It will also be determined by your ability to maintain your energy day after day after day. You'll need to be positive, adaptable, persistent, resilient and an attentive group member to thrive on this adventure. This expedition typically runs west to east depending on various logistics. We also offer a ski expedition with dogsled support (no individual sleds) as well as a ski/pulk expedition where each person has his/her own sled(s). Contact us for more details!

Dates & Rates

Tentative 2025 Starting Dates:

Ski & Pulk Traverse: April 29, 2025

Dogsled supported Ski Traverse : Contact us

Tentative 2025 Price:

Please contact us for pricing.

Participants receive a discount on our 6-day Polar Shakedown Training. Click here for more details.

Inclusions:

Includes all group equipment, guide(s), permits, communication & safety gear, dinners and breakfasts while on the ice.

Itinerary

Pre-Expedition

Arrive in Kangerlussuaq.

DAY 1 & 2

We will meet in Kangerlussuaq and kick off the the expedition by spending the first two days in town preparing, packing and reviewing expedition skills.

DAY 3

The ski/pulk team will depart for the edge of the icecap, a location known as "Point 660" to begin the ascent of the icecap.

DAY 4

The ski/pulk team will continue their ascent through the icefall emerging onto the icecap and heading to DYE II.

Read the full W=E itinerary here.

Qualifications

This expedition is for people who are in good shape, and who are eager to push themselves physically and mentally. You need the mental toughness to wake up every morning ready for a challenge, day after day, without a break. Though the skiing is quite demanding, it does not require significant skill. You will need to have very good cardiovascular endurance and the ability to pull a heavy sled (on our ski/pulk expedition) for several hours at a time, with only short pauses; or the ability to ski at a steady and efficient pace (for our dogsled-supported ski expedition) Most importantly you need to be able to regulate your body temperature and energy so that you do not get too cold, or too hot, or "hit the wall" with fatigue. Towards the end of the day it is critical that you have the energy reserves to set up camp and help out with the basic necessities of camp life including making water, cooking, etc.

This expedition will encounter extreme conditions including high winds, limited visibility, snow, possibly rain, and cold temperatures. Living in such cold conditions 24 hours a day can be very challenging. This expedition demands that you stay well-fed and hydrated. You need to be proactive about keeping yourself healthy and free of injury. An evacuation from this expedition is very costly and logistically difficult.

You do not have to be a world class athlete to participate in and enjoy this expedition, but every ounce of training and preparation will help to make the expedition more enjoyable and safer.

Please contact us with further questions!

Equipment

Upon registration, you will receive a comprehensive gear guide that explains the importance of each item as well as gear recommendations from our past participants. Please contact us for more information about your personal gear and group gear for this expedition.

Several items on our equipment checklist are available from our store.

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